Detection and compensation of multiplexer leakage current

ABSTRACT

A multiplexed input/output (I/O) system detects leakage currents on a selected input channel. The system includes a leakage detection multiplexer connected to provide an output selected from one of a plurality of input channels. In addition, the leakage detection multiplexer provides as part of the output measured leakage currents associated with the selected input channel. Based on the detected leakage currents, a determination can made regarding whether the detected leakage currents have compromised the integrity of the multiplexer output. In addition, the detected leakage current can be used to compensate the output provided by the multiplexer to account for the presence of leakage currents on the selected channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/584,468, filed Sep. 4, 2009, entitled “DETECTION AND COMPENSATION OF MULTIPLEXER LEAKAGE CURRENT”.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to multiplexers, and in particular, to a multiplexer architecture for detecting leakage currents between input channels.

A multiplexer is a device that provides an output selected from a plurality of inputs. Multiplexers are beneficial because they allow more expensive resources (such as analog-to-digital converters) to be shared by a plurality of devices. In this way, rather than employ a separate analog-to-digital converter for each device, a single analog-to-digital converter may be employed for a plurality of devices.

A plurality of switches (e.g., metal-oxide semiconductor devices, opto-couplers, etc.) employed by the multiplexer are controlled (i.e., opened and closed) to select the desired input (i.e., channel) to provide at the output of the multiplexer. Ideally, the switches when open provide total isolation between each of the plurality of channels. In actuality, even when open the switches allow small amounts of current to leak between channels. This undesirable current is referred to as ‘leakage current’, the result of which can have a negative impact on the integrity of the signal provided at the output of the multiplexer.

In many applications, leakage currents are insubstantial and do not significantly affect the integrity of the multiplexer output. However, factors such as temperature and device-to-device potentials (i.e., input devices of the multiplexer being maintained, either intentionally or unintentionally at significantly different potentials), either alone or in combination, increase the leakage current associated with switches employed by the multiplexer.

In many applications (such as process control applications), even a small change in the integrity of the signal provided by the multiplexer may result in significant application errors. It would therefore be beneficial to detect the presence of leakage currents and/or compensate the output signal provided by the multiplexer in response to detected leakage currents.

SUMMARY

A multiplexed input/output (I/O) system detects leakage currents on a selected input channel. The system includes a leakage detection multiplexer connected to provide an output selected from one of a plurality of input channels and a leakage output indicative of leakage current associated with a selected input channel. In response to the leakage output exceeding a threshold value, a controller provides notification indicating a loss of integrity associated with the selected input channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an input/output (I/O) system for providing leakage current detection/compensation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are circuit diagrams illustrating in more detail embodiments of the leakage current detection multiplexer according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs illustrating the correlation between leakage current and the integrity of measurements provided by the multiplexer and limits used to indicate excessive leakage current.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating in more detail the leakage current detection multiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating in more detail the leakage current detection multiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the present invention is a multiplexed input/output system that provides for the detection and/or compensation of leakage currents associated with the multiplexer. In particular, the multiplexer employed by the present invention includes with respect to each input channel at least one leakage current sense resistor, as well as additional bus lines and switches necessary to measure the voltage across the leakage current sense resistor. Based on the measured voltage across the leakage current sense resistor, the leakage current associated with a particular channel can be estimated and employed to determine whether the integrity of the output provided by the multiplexer has been compromised by the detected leakage current. A warning signal can be provided in response indicating the potential loss of integrity associated with the particular channel and/or channels.

In addition to detecting the presence of leakage currents, the present invention may provide compensation to the output signal provided by the multiplexer based on the detected leakage currents. The compensation corrects for errors introduced into the output signal by the leakage current. A benefit of this approach is signal integrity is maintained despite conditions (e.g., high temperatures, large device-to-device potentials) that would render a typical multiplexer inoperable.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of input/output (I/O) system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. System 10 includes leakage current detection multiplexer 12 (hereinafter multiplexer 12), analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 14, and controller 16. Multiplexer 12 is connected to a plurality of input channels Ch_1, Ch_2 . . . Ch_3 (collectively, “input channels”), each connected to one of plurality of sensor devices 18 a, 18 b, and 18 c, respectively (collectively, “sensor devices 18”). Each input channel may consist of one or more input lines (i.e., terminals). For example, sensor device 18 a may be a two-lead thermocouple. As such, multiplexer 12 would include two input terminals with respect to sensor device 18 a. Other types of sensor devices employ various lead configurations. As such, multiplexers are typically designed to accommodate a variety of sensor types, commonly employing four input terminals with respect to each channel.

Multiplexer 12 includes a plurality of switches (embodiments of which are described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4 and 5) that are selectively controlled (i.e., opened and closed) by controller 16 to determine which of the plurality of input channels to provide at the common output of multiplexer 12. To select a particular input channel (e.g., input channel Ch_1), switches associated with the selected channel are closed and the input provided at the selected input channel is provided at a common output of multiplexer 12. Switches connected to the remaining, unselected input channels (e.g., input channels Ch_2, Ch_3) remain open to isolate the non-selected input channels from the selected input channel.

The presence of a potential difference (labeled ‘Vs−s’) between adjacent sensors (e.g., between sensors 18 a and 18 b) can contribute to the presence of crosstalk or leakage current between the respective input channels. Leakage currents distort the input signal provided at a selected input channel, and if significant will result in the erroneous interpretation of the process variable measured by a corresponding sensor. As described in more detail below, the architecture of multiplexer 12 according to embodiments of the present invention allow leakage currents associated with one or more of the plurality of input channels to be detected. The detected leakage current (labeled ‘leak_det’) is provided as an output of multiplexer 12 along with the sensor input provided by the selected input channel (labeled ‘Sel_Ch’) to A/D converter 14. A digital representation of the detected leakage current is provided to controller 16 to determine whether an alarm or notification should be sent indicating the loss of integrity associated with the selected input channel and/or to allow controller 16 to provide compensation to the signal provided by the selected input channel based on the detected leakage current.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are circuit diagrams illustrating in more detail embodiments of the leakage current detection multiplexer (labeled multiplexer 22 a and multiplexer 22 b, respectively) according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, multiplexer 22 a is connected to receive sensor data from a plurality of input channels, two of which are shown (i.e., input channels Ch_1 and Ch_2). Multiplexer 22 a includes a plurality of input terminals Ch_1 a, Ch_1 c, Ch_2 a, and Ch_2 c, a plurality of switches S_1 a, S_1 b, S_1 c, S_2 a, S_2 b, and S_2 c, a plurality of leakage current sense resistors R_1 b and R_2 b, and a plurality of output terminals Sel_Ch_a, Sel_Ch_b, and Sel_Ch_c that make up the common output channel of multiplexer 22 a.

Components employed by multiplexer 22 a are labeled to indicate both the input channel and output terminal associated with the component. For example, the input terminal associated with input channel Ch_1, connected to provide an output at output terminal Sel_Ch_a (via switch S_1 a) is labeled Ch_1 a. The other input terminal associated with channel Ch_1, connected to provide an output at output terminal Sel_Ch_c (via switch S_1 c) is labeled Ch_1 c. The leakage sense resistor associated with input channel Ch_1 is labeled R_1 b because it is connected (via switch S_1 b) to output terminal Sel_Ch_b. Components associated with input channel Ch_2 are similarly labeled, with input terminals Ch_2 a and Ch_2 c, switches S_2 a, S_2 b, and S_2 c, and leakage current resistor R_2 b. Input terminals Ch_2 a and Ch_2 c are connected to output terminals Sel_Ch_a and Sel_Ch_c, respectively, through switches S_2 a and S_2 c, respectively. Leakage sense resistor R_2 b is connected to output terminal Sel_Ch_b via switch S_2 b.

To facilitate the description of multiplexer 22 a, sensors 18 are illustrated here as simple two-terminal thermocouple devices, each device including a high-lead resistance Rh and a low-lead resistance R1 connected to respective input terminal (e.g., sensor device 18 a is connected to input terminals Ch_1 a and Ch_1 c). A typical thermocouple would further include an artificial cold junction using some other thermally sensitive device, such as a thermistor or diode, to measure the temperature of the input connections at the instrument although for purposes of this discussion the simple configuration illustrated will suffice.

To select a particular input channel to provide at the common output channel of multiplexer 22 a, each switch associated with the selected input channel is closed. As shown in FIG. 2A, switches S_1 a, S_1 b and S_1 c are closed to select input channel Ch_1. Conversely, switches associated with non-selected channels are opened to isolate the selected channel from the non-selected channels. Ideally, an open switch represents an infinite resistance that effectively prevents any current from flowing through a non-selected channel. From a practical standpoint, however, an open switch has a finite resistance that varies based on individual characteristics of the switch as well as external factors such as the temperature associated with the switch. Coupled with the presence of sensor-to-sensor potential differences (illustrated by the voltage ‘Vs−s’), leakage currents may be induced through the open switches as shown in FIG. 2A, in which leakage currents ia, ib, and ic flow through open switches S2-A, S2-B and S2-C, respectively. Because each of the channels is connected to a common output (output terminals Sel_Ch_a, Sel_Ch-b, and Sel_Ch_c), the leakage currents ia, ib and ic flow through open switches S_2 a, S_2 b and S_2 c and are provided through closed switches S_1 a, S_1 b and S_1 c, respectively.

Resulting leakage currents ia, ib, and ic flow through thermocouple leads Rh_1 and R1_1, resulting in a voltage drop that modifies (assuming unequal resistances associated with leads Rh_1 and R1_1) the potential difference provided by the thermocouple at input terminals Ch_1 a and Ch_1 c. As a result, the output provided by multiplexer 22 a (at output terminals Sel-Ch_a and Sel_Ch_c) representing the sensed temperature will include some distortion due to the leakage current.

Detection of leakage current by multiplexer 22 a is provided by the addition of leakage sense resistor (e.g., leakage sense resistor R_1 b provided with respect to input channel Ch_1) and an additional bus line and output terminal (e.g., output terminal Sel_Ch_b) for measuring the voltage drop across leakage sense resistor R_1 b. To determine the leakage current associated with a particular channel, the plurality of switches associated with the selected channel are closed, including the switch associated with the leakage sense resistor, and the voltages associated with each bus line are provided at the respective output terminals of multiplexer 22 a.

For example, to measure leakage currents associated with channel Ch_1, switches S_1 a, S_1 b, and S_1 c are closed (all remaining switches included within multiplexer 22 remain open), and the voltage across current sense resistor R_1 b is measured by way of the voltage difference provided at output terminals Sel_Ch_b and Sel_Ch_c. The voltage difference across current sense resistor R_1 b, combined with knowledge of the resistance value of resistor R_1 b, allows the leakage current ib to be determined. In this embodiment, the current into terminal Ch_1 a is not measured, and the current into terminal Ch_1 c is known only to the extent that the leakage current ib can be attributed to leakage current is (the sum of which determines the actual leakage current into terminal Ch_1 c). However, for purposes of detecting a loss of sensor integrity (i.e., loss of integrity associated with the sensor data provided by the selected input channel to the common output channel, in this case, at output terminals Sel_Ch_a and Sel_Ch_c), knowledge regarding the magnitude of the leakage current through one of the bus lines is typically sufficient.

The voltage values provided at output terminals Sel_Ch_a, Sel_Ch_b and Sel_Ch_c are provided to A/D converter 14, which converts the analog voltage values to digital values. A/D converter 14 provides the digital values to controller 16, which interprets the provided values. For example, a two-terminal thermocouple device provides a voltage difference at the terminals that reflects the measured temperature. Controller 16 would interpret the voltages provided at output terminals Sel_Ch_a and Sel_Ch_c (connected to input terminals Ch_1 a and Ch_1 c, respectively) to determine the temperature measured by sensor device 18 a. In addition, controller 16 determines based on the detected leakage current (represented by the voltage difference provided between output terminals Sel_Ch_b and Sel_Ch_c) whether the detected leakage current has compromised the integrity of the output provided by multiplexer 22 a. This may include comparing the measured leakage current to a threshold value or reporting the sensed leakage current to a user or control room. In other embodiments, controller 16 may compensate the signal provided by the sensor to account for the leakage current, but accurate compensation is improved by knowledge of the leakage current through each input terminal of the selected channel (as described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5).

Similar operations may be performed with respect to each input channel. Depending on the application, A/D converter 14 and controller 16, both of which represent relatively expensive operations, may only periodically review the leakage current associated with each of the plurality of inputs. This is typically acceptable as the factors giving rise to large leakage currents (e.g., temperature and sensor-to-sensor potential) are typically slow to change. In other applications, however, it may be beneficial to continuously monitor the presence of leakage currents.

FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram illustrating in more detail another embodiment of the leakage current detection multiplexer (labeled multiplexer 22 b to differentiate between multiplexer 22 a described with respect to FIG. 2A). Multiplexer 22 b includes the same components described with respect to multiplexer 12 a shown in FIG. 2A, including a plurality of input terminals Ch_1 a, Ch_1 c, Ch_2 a and Ch_2 c, a plurality of switches S_1 a, S_1 b, S_1 c′, S_2 a, S_2 b and S_2 c′, a plurality of leakage current sense resistors R_1 b and R_2 b, and a plurality of output terminals Sel_Ch_a, Sel_Ch_b and Sel_Ch_c.

The difference between this embodiment and that shown in FIG. 2A is the connection of switches S_1 c′ and S_2 c′ (the prime notation indicates schematic differences between the embodiments). In FIG. 2A, a first side of switch S_1 c was connected to input terminal Ch_1 c and the second side was connected to output terminal Sel_Ch_c. In this embodiment, the first side of switch S_1 c′ is connected between switch S_1 b and current leakage resistor R_1 b. The second side of switch S_1 c′ remains connected to output terminal Sel_Ch_c. Likewise, the first side of switch S_2 c′ is connected between switch S_2 b and currently leakage resistor R_2 b.

The benefit of this approach is a majority of the leakage current that flows into terminal Ch_1 c is attributable to leakage current ib (as opposed to a combination of leakage currents ib and ic), which can be measured based on the measured voltage drop across current leakage resistor R_1 b. Assuming leakage current is due, in large part, to the presence of a large sensor-to-sensor potential difference Vs−s, by connecting the first side of switch S_2 c′ on the opposite side of switch S_2 b, a majority of the potential difference will drop across open switch S_2 b (due to the relatively high, although not infinite, resistance associated with an open switch). As a result, the first side of switch S_2 c′ is connected to a node of significantly lower potential than the first side of switch S_2 c (as shown in FIG. 2A), and the magnitude of leakage current is flowing through open switch S_2 c′ is significantly less than the leakage current ib flowing through open switch S_2 b.

As a result, the leakage current estimated based on the voltage difference measured across leakage sense resistor R_1 b more accurately portrays the leakage current flowing into input terminal Ch_1 c. The leakage current provided to input terminal Ch_1 a remains unknown in this embodiment, but once again may be estimated based on the measured leakage current associated with input terminal Ch_1 c.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs illustrating the correlation between sensor-to-sensor voltage and temperature with leakage current magnitudes as well as an example of how leakage current thresholds are employed to determine loss of sensor integrity. FIGS. 3A and 3B are from prototypes based on the circuit diagram described with respect to FIG. 2A, but the principles remain valid for the embodiment described with respect to FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3A illustrates how sensor-to-sensor potential and temperature affects leakage current. The y-axis represents current magnitudes (e.g., nano-Ampere (ηA) units) and the x-axis represents ambient temperatures (e.g., Celsius units) associated with a multiplexer (i.e., the temperature does not necessarily represent temperature value sensed by the sensor, only ambient temperatures associated with the multiplexer). Each line represents leakage currents sensed with respect to varying magnitudes of sensor-to-sensor potential Vs−s, labeled ‘−600 V’, ‘−100 V’, ‘0 V’, ‘50 V’, ‘100 V’, and ‘600 V’, respectively. Threshold limits identifying the leakage current amplitude at which point the integrity of sensed process variables (pv) is compromised are illustrated at 30 ηA and at −30 ηA (labeled ‘leakage limit’). These thresholds are determined based at the point (shown in FIG. 3B) at which the sensed process variable exceeds defined specification limits (provided at 15 μV and −15 μV).

As shown in FIG. 3A, leakage currents increase with increasing temperature and with increased sensor-to-sensor potential Vs−s. In particular, when the sensor-to-sensor potential Vs−s equals 600 V (represented by the line labeled ‘600 V’), the leakage current matches the leakage limit when the ambient temperature reaches 75° C., and exceeds the leakage limit when the ambient temperature reaches 85° C. Exceeding the leakage limit indicates that errors associated with the sensed process variables have exceeded specification limits (shown in FIG. 3B) such that the integrity of the sensor signal has been compromised.

FIG. 3B illustrates how leakage currents generated by increasing sensor-to-sensor potential Vs−s and increasing temperature negatively impacts the sensed process voltage, and therefore the integrity of the sensed process variable. The y-axis represents error values (micro-Volts (μV) units) introduced into the sensed process variable and the x-axis represents ambient temperatures (Celsius) associated with a multiplexer with the same scale as that employed with respect to FIG. 3A. Once again, each line represents process variable errors measured with respect to varying amplitudes of sensor-to-sensor potential Vs−s, labeled ‘−600 V’, ‘−100 V’, ‘−50 V’, ‘0 V’, ‘50 V’, ‘100 V’, and ‘600 V’, respectively. Specification limits (labeled ‘pv limits’) are defined to indicate the point at which the integrity of sensed process variables has been compromised (e.g., 15 μV and −15 μV). In this simulation, errors in the sensed process variable exceed the specification limit at a temperature of 75° C. and a sensor-to-sensor voltage of |600| V (i.e., at 600 V and −600 V). The leakage current generated at this temperature and sensor-to-sensor potential, as shown in FIG. 3A, becomes the leakage current threshold (also shown in FIG. 3A). In this way, leakage currents that exceed the defined threshold indicate a loss of integrity, as defined by the sensed process voltage.

Leakage limits are determined with respect to a particular sensor based on knowledge regarding how leakage currents will affect sensor integrity. The leakage current limits can be estimated based on information known about the type of sensor being employed, including the resistance of the sensor and the differential resistance associated with each lead, or may be determined by applying a known current to the sensor and measuring a resulting voltage (in much the same way a current is applied to a two-lead resistive temperature device (RTD)) to determine the resistance of a particular sensor. Knowing the resistance of the sensor (e.g., with respect to thermocouple devices, knowing the resistivity ratio associated with each lead of the thermocouple) determines the effect leakage currents will have on the integrity of the signal. For example, with respect to thermocouples, the larger the resistivity ratio between terminals, the more prominent the effect the leakage current will have on sensor integrity.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating another embodiment of leakage current detection multiplexer (labeled here as multiplexer 24) according to the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, multiplexer 24 is once again connected to receive sensor data from a plurality of input channels, two of which are shown (input channels Ch_1 and Ch_2). Once again, the description is simplified by the assumption of two-terminal devices connected to each of the respective input channels. Multiplexer 24 includes a plurality of input terminals Ch_1 a, Ch_1 d, Ch_2 a and Ch_2 d, a plurality of switches S_1 a, S_1 b, S_1 c, S_1 d, S_2 a, S_2 b, S_2 c and S_2 d, a plurality of leakage sense resistors R_1 b, R_1 c, R_2 b and R_2 c, and a plurality of output terminals Sel_Ch_a, Sel_Ch_b, Sel_Ch_c and Sel_Ch_d making up the common output channel of multiplexer 24.

Components employed by multiplexer 24 are once again labeled to indicate both the input channel and output terminal associated with the component. For example, the input terminal associated with input channel Ch_1, connected to provide an output at output terminal Sel_Ch_a (via switch S_1 a), is labeled Ch_1 a. The other input terminal associated with channel Ch_1, connected to provide an output at output terminal Sel_Ch_d (via switch S_1 d), is labeled Ch_1 d. The leakage sense resistors associated with input channel Ch_1 connected (via switches S_1 b and S_1 c, respectively) to output terminals Sel_Ch_b and Sel_Ch_c are labeled R_1 b and R_1 c, respectively.

In contrast with the embodiment described with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, this embodiment includes a leakage sense resistor associated with each of the plurality of input terminals. Although this embodiment results in an increase in the complexity associated with multiplexer 24, a benefit of the additional bus lines and associated leakage sense resistors is the ability to know the leakage current at each input terminal. Knowledge of the leakage current through each input terminal can be used to compensate the sensor signal provided on a selected input channel.

For instance, in the example shown in FIG. 4, switches S_1 a, S_1 b, S_1 c, and S_1 d are closed to select input channel Ch_1. Switches associated with non-selected channel remain open. The sensor input provided by sensor 18 a is provided as a voltage difference at output terminals Sel_Ch_a and Sel_Ch_d, respectively. Leakage current ib flowing into input terminal Ch_1 a is determined based on the voltage drop across leakage sense resistor R_1 b, measured as the voltage difference between output terminals Sel_Ch_a and Sel_Ch_b. Leakage current is flowing into input terminal Ch_1 d is determined based on the voltage drop across leakage sense resistor R_1 c, measured as the voltage difference between output terminals Sel_Ch_c and Sel_Ch_d. In this way, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 provides information regarding the leakage current provided to both input terminals (e.g., input terminal Ch_1 a and Ch_1 d) associated with a particular channel.

The present embodiment does not measure the leakage currents ia and id, and thus the actual leakage current provided to the input terminals Ch_1 a and Ch_1 d is known only to the extent the measured leakage currents ib and ic can be attributed to the remaining bus lines. Applicants in which three- or four-terminal sensor devices are connected to a particular input channel may required knowledge of the leakage currents through those additional bus lines (as shown in FIG. 5). However, a majority of the leakage current that flows into terminals Ch_1 a and Ch_1 d is attributable to leakage current ib and ic, respectively, as opposed to a combination of leakage currents ia and ib, and leakage currents ic and id. Leakage currents ib and ic are known based on the measured voltage drop across leakage resistor R_1 b and R_1 c, respectively. This is attributable, once again, to the large potential across switches S_2 b and S_2 c, respectively, and the relatively small potential across switches S_2 a and S_2 d, which results in relatively small leakage currents ia and id.

As a result, the leakage current estimated based on the voltage difference measured across leakage sense resistors R_1 b and R_1 c accurately portrays the leakage current flowing into input terminals Ch_1 a and Ch_1 d. Calculating the effect of the leakage current on the voltage between the input terminals Ch_1 a and Ch_1 d requires knowledge of the high-side resistance (Rh_1) and low-side resistance (R1_1). In one embodiment, a regular 2-wire ohmic measurement across the thermocouple, measuring a total resistance associated with the device, coupled with knowledge of the type of device, which determines the ratio between the high-side resistance and the low-side resistance, allows the high-side resistance and low-side resistance to be individually determined. The compensation to be added to a thermocouple device having a known high-side resistance and low-side resistance is defined by the following exemplary equation:

Vcomp=−ib*Rh _(—)1+ic*Rl _(—)1  Eq. 1

The voltage compensation calculated using Equation 1 takes into account the voltage drop attributable to leakage current ib flowing through high-side resistor Rh_1 and the voltage drop attributable to leakage current ic flowing through low-side resistor R1_1.

For purposes of detecting a loss of sensor integrity due to the presence of leakage currents, knowledge regarding the leakage currents at one of the input terminals is typically sufficient. With information regarding the flow of leakage currents into each terminal of the input channel, along with knowledge regarding the high-side resistance Rh_1 and low-side resistance R1_1, the effect of the leakage current on the voltage provided at input terminals Ch_1 a and Ch_1 d can be compensated.

The outputs provided by multiplexer 24, including outputs representing the sensor signal (e.g., voltage difference between output terminals Sel_Ch_a and Sel_Ch_d) and outputs representing the voltage drop across the respective leakage sense resistors (e.g., voltage difference between output terminals Sel_Ch_a and Sel_Ch_b, and between output terminals Sel_Ch_c and Sel_Ch_d) are converted to digital values by A/D converter 14 and provided to controller 16. Based on the provided outputs, controller 16 calculates the process variable measured by the sensor connected to the selected channel (in this case, the temperature measured by the thermocouple) and compensates the measured sensor signal based on the calculated leakage currents (e.g., as shown in Equation 1). A benefit of this approach is despite the presence of leakage currents that would otherwise compromise the integrity of the sensor signal, the present invention is able to provide compensation to correct for the detected presence of leakage currents.

Similar operations may be performed with respect to each input channel. Depending on the application, A/D converter 14 and controller 16, both of which represent relatively expensive operations, may only periodically review the leakage current associated with each of the plurality of inputs, applying the previously calculated compensation signal to the sensor signal. This is typically acceptable as the factors giving rise to large leakage currents (e.g., temperature and sensor-to-sensor potential) are typically slow to change. In other applications, however, it may be beneficial to monitor the leakage currents with respect to each selected channel. This improves the accuracy of the signal by continually updating the compensation provided to the sensor signal.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating in more detail another embodiment of the leakage current detection multiplexer (labeled here as multiplexer 26). As compared with the multiplexer described with respect to FIG. 4, multiplexer 26 includes additional bus lines associated with each channel and additional leakage sense resistors for measuring the leakage resistor into the input terminals of multiplexer 26. Multiplexer 26 includes a plurality of input terminals Ch_1 b, Ch_1 f, Ch_2 b, and Ch_2 f, a plurality of switches S_1 a, S_1 b, S_1 c, S_1 d, S_1 e, S_1 f, S_2 a, S_2 b, S_2 c, S_2 d, S_2 e, and S_2 f, a plurality of leakage sense resistors R_1 a, R_1 c, R_1 d, R_1 e, R_2 a, R_2 c, R_2 d, and R_2 e, and a plurality of output terminals Sel_Ch_a, Sel_Ch_b, Sel_Ch_c, Sel_Ch_d, Sel_Ch_e, and Sel_Ch_f making up the common output channel. Components are once again labeled to indicate both the input channel and output terminal associated with the component.

The additional bus lines allow multiplexer 26 to provide leakage current detection associated with sensors employing four terminals per channel. For instance, although sensor 18 a is illustrated here as a thermocouple device, it may be replaced with a resistive temperature device (RTD) having a resistance that varies with temperature. RTD devices may be three-terminal devices or four-terminal devices. In a four-terminal device, current is provided to the RTD device via two terminals. The other two terminals are high-impedance paths for measuring the voltage generated across the RTD in response to the provided current. With a known current, the measured voltage is used to determine the resistance of the RTD, and therefore the corresponding temperature of the device.

In this embodiment, only leakage currents provided at each input terminal are labeled, as opposed to previous embodiments in which leakage currents were associated with each bus line. Therefore, leakage currents i1 and i2 are provided between terminals Ch_2 b and Ch_1 b, and leakage currents i3 and i4 are provided between terminals Ch_2 f and Ch_1 f.

To select a particular input channel to provide at the common output channel of multiplexer 26, each switch associated with the selected input channel is closed. In the example shown in FIG. 5, switches S_1 a, S_1 b, S_1 c, S_1 d, S_1 e, and S_1 f are closed to select channel Ch_1. Conversely, switches associated with non-selected channels are opened (or remain open) to isolate the selected channel from the non-selected channels. As discussed above, leakage currents may develop between the selected channel and the non-selected channel. In this embodiment, leakage currents may develop between each of the plurality of bus lines, but the leakage current is typically insubstantial in bus lines associated with switches S_1 b and S_1 f. For example, switch S_2 f is connected between switch S_2 e and resistor R_2 e. When switch S_2 e is open (i.e., high impedance), a majority of the sensor-to-sensor voltage Vs−s is provided across switch S_2 e, such that switch S_2 f has a minimal voltage drop. As a result, minimal leakage current is provided via switch S_2 f to switch S_1 f. The same is true with respect to switch S_2 b, with little or no leakage current being provided to switch S_1 b.

With this in mind, leakage currents i1, i2, i3 and i4 can be accurately determined by measuring the voltage across leakage sense resistor R_1 a, R_1 c, R_1 d, and R_1 e, respectively. Leakage current i1 is determined by measuring the voltage on either side of current sense resistor R_1 a via output terminals Ch_Sel_a and Ch_Sel_b. The measured voltage across leakage sense resistor R_1 a, combined with knowledge of the resistance value of resistor R_1 a allows the leakage current i1 to be determined. Likewise, the leakage current i2 is determined by measuring the voltage on either side of current sense resistor R_1 c via output terminals Ch_Sel_b and Ch_Sel_c. Resistors R_1 d and R_1 e are similarly employed to measure the leakage currents i3 and i4 flowing into input terminal Ch_1 f. Leakage currents i1 and i2 are combined to determine the leakage current into input terminal Ch_1 b and leakage currents i3 and i4 are combined to determine the leakage current into input terminal Ch_1 f.

As discussed above, the voltage values provided at the output terminals Sel_Ch_a, Sel_Ch_b, Sel_Ch_c, Sel_Ch_d, Sel_Ch_e, and Sel_Ch_f are provided to A/D converter 14, converted to digital values, and provided to a controller (e.g., controller 16 shown in FIG. 1) for analysis. For instance, sensor values are based on the voltage difference provided between output terminals Sel_Ch_b and Sel_Ch_f. Leakage current i1 is based on the voltage difference provided between output terminals Sel_Ch_a and Sel_Ch_b and leakage currents i2, i3 and i4 are based on the respective voltage differences sensed across leakage sense resistors R_1 c, R_1 d and R_1 e.

Based on the provided output, controller 16 calculates the process variable measured by the sensor connected to the selected channel (e.g., the temperature sensed by sensor device 18 a) and determines whether the magnitude of the leakage currents has compromised the integrity of the multiplexer output. Knowledge of the magnitude of leakage currents into each terminal is beneficial, as it allows controller 16 to better determine the effect the leakage currents will have on the sensed process variable.

In addition, knowledge of the leakage currents flowing into both input terminals allows the controller to calculate a compensation signal (e.g., voltage) that is added to the output provided by the selected sensor in order to compensate for the effects of the leakage current provided to respective leads of sensor device 18 a. The additional bus lines allow leakage currents to be measured with respect to input channels that include multiple terminals (e.g., input channels connected to RTD devices). A benefit of this approach is despite the presence of leakage currents that would otherwise compromise the integrity of the sensor signal, the present invention is able to provide compensation to correct for the detected presence of leakage currents. In an exemplary embodiment, controller 16 employs the following equation to calculate the compensation to be applied to the sensor output provided by a thermocouple with lead resistances Rh_1 and R1_1. As discussed with respect to Eq. 1, knowledge of the high-side resistance Rh_1 value and low-side resistance R1_1 value, in the case of a thermocouple device, is required for the compensation calculation.

Vcomp=−((i1+i2)*Rh _(—)1+i2*R _(—)1c)+((i3+i4)*Rl _(—)1+i3*R _(—)1d))  Eq. 2

The voltage compensation calculated as shown in Equation 2 takes into account the effect of leakage currents on the voltage drop across the high-side resistor attributable to leakage currents i1 and i2 and the voltage drop across sense resistor R_1 c attributable to leakage current i2, as well as the voltage drop across the low-side resistor attributable to leakage currents i3 and i4 and the voltage drop across sense resistor R_1 d attributable to leakage current i3.

Similar operations may be performed with respect to each input channel. Depending on the application, A/D converter 14 and controller 16, both of which represent relatively expensive operations, may only periodically review the leakage current associated with each of the plurality of inputs, applying the previously calculated compensation signal to the sensor signal. This is typically acceptable as the factors giving rise to large leakage currents change relatively slowly. In other applications it may be beneficial to monitor the leakage currents with respect to each selected channel. This improves the accuracy of the signal by continually updating the compensation provided to the sensor signal.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the multiplexer of the present invention may be configured to communicate with devices other than the simple two-terminal thermocouples described with respect to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4 and 5. Some devices require additional input terminals with respect to each input channel. As a result, the multiplexer would include additional bus lines connected to each of the input terminals and additional output terminals to communicate each of inputs associated with a particular channel. In order to measure leakage currents associated with one or more the terminals, additional leakage sense resistors would be required with respect to one or more the input terminals. Additional bus lines would also be required in order to measure the voltage drop across each of the provided leakage sense resistors.

In addition, each of the embodiments describes the multiplexer, the A/D converter and the controller as individual components, but workers skilled in the art will recognize that these components could be incorporated together as a single element. For instance, the functions performed by each of these components may be implemented with the use of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or similar device. 

1. A multiplexed input/output (I/O) system including: a leakage detection multiplexer for providing a sensor output selected from one of a plurality of input channels and a leakage output indicative of leakage current associated with a selected input channel; and a controller for generating a notification when the output indicative of leakage current exceeds a threshold value indicating a loss of integrity associated with the selected input channel.
 2. The multiplexed I/O system of claim 1, wherein the leakage detection multiplexer includes a plurality of input terminals associated with each of the plurality of input channels, wherein the leakage output is indicative of a leakage current associated with at least one of the plurality of input terminals.
 3. The multiplexed I/O system of claim 1, wherein the leakage detection multiplexer includes a plurality of input terminals associated with each of the plurality of input channels, wherein the leakage output is indicative of leakage currents associated with each of the plurality of input terminals associated with a particular input channel.
 4. The multiplexed I/O system of claim 3, wherein the controller calculates a compensation signal based on the leakage output provided with respect to each of the plurality of input terminals and adds the compensation signal to the sensor output to generator a compensated sensor output that accounts for the detected presence of leakage currents.
 5. The multiplexed I/O system of claim 4, wherein the controller calculates the compensation signal based, in addition, on information regarding a type of sensor connected to the selected input channel and resistive values associated with the sensor connected to the selected input channel to determine the effect the monitored leakage current has on the sensor output provided by the multiplexer.
 6. The multiplexed I/O system of claim 1, wherein the leakage detection multiplexer includes: at least one leakage sense resistor connected to each of plurality of input channels, wherein the leakage output represents the voltage across the leakage sense resistor associated with the selected input channel. 